“And did he?”
“We’re working on it,” Brokk said. “But she shows promise and has improved.”
“Good,” Cole stated. “That’s something we’ll continue to work on.”
Lexi grinned at him.
“I have to finish with the council,” he told her. “I’ll be back soon.”
“We’ll be here.”
He kissed her cheek and started to turn away before stopping. Between his imprisonment in the Lord’s tower and the trials, they’d been away far too often. He didn’t want to leave her so soon after finally holding her again.
He’d intended to keep the knowledge of what she was to him a secret from others for longer, but he wanted her by his side for the memorial service and his coronation. The dark fae wouldn’t be thrilled to learn his mate wasn’t one of them, but they would have to accept it.
He held his hand out to her. “Come with me.”
She stared at his hand before shifting her gaze to the hall behind him. “They don’t want me in there.”
“They’re going to have to get used to seeing you by my side. Besides, we’re not discussing anything that others can’t hear. We’re finalizing the details of my father’s memorial and my coronation. You can be there for that.”
She wrung her hands before her. “I’m happy to wait here.”
“I want you with me.”
Chapter Forty-One
Lexi staredat Cole’s hand as those words sank in. He wanted her with him.
As much as she’d prefernotto see the council, and especially Becca again, she couldn’t say no to that. He looked much the same as he had before he left. His face was thinner, and his clothes were baggier, but she didn’t see so much as a scratch on him.
She sensed looks were extremely deceiving as the tiredness in his eyes wasn’t there before. Those eyes also held a knowledge that spoke of things she couldn’t imagine. New lines marked them, and there was a pinched set to his mouth.
He also emanated alotmore power.
He’d always been one of the most powerful beings she’d ever encountered; she’d sensed that from their first encounter, but there was so much more here now.
The strength of his newfound power caused the hair on her arms to rise and left a metallic taste in her mouth. When she first met the dark fae king, she’d sensed Tove’s power, and at the time, it was more than Cole’s.
That wasn’t true anymore, and this was so muchmorethan Tove once possessed.
She didn’t know if it was because this power was still so new in Cole or if surviving the trials somehow caused it to manifest stronger in him than in his father. She didn’t know how that was possible.
Did the others sense it as well?
They must. The beings in this palace were full-blooded immortals, whereas she wasn’t. If she felt it this strongly, then what did it feel like to them?
Goose bumps broke out on Lexi’s arms as she pondered this. And if they sensed it more strongly than her, would it make it so they wouldn’t fuck with him, or would they see him as a challenge to take down?
Either way, she would be by his side, fighting for him.
She slipped her hand into his and squeezed it as she sought to convey her love to him. The dark fae intimidated—no, she couldn’t lie to herself, they unnerved her, and she didnotwant to see Becca again, but she would stand by his side… for as long as he would have her there.
He might change his mind when he learned about Orin. Until then, she would do everything she could for him.
“You should come too,” Cole said to Brokk.
Brokk fell in to walk on the other side of Cole. They entered the great hall together. The first time Lexi was here, it was packed with immortals and lit up with a beautiful night sky of shifting constellations.
